15 December, 2000
Inquiries: Mr Timo Koskimäki +358 9 1734 3479, Ms
Mari Suviranta +358 9 1734 3501
Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices: Ms Mari Ylä-Jarkko +358 9 1734
3310
Director in charge: Mr Jarmo Hyrkkö
Inflation 4.0 per cent in November
According to Statistics Finland, the year-on-year change in consumer prices, i.e. inflation, was 4.0 per cent in November. The rate of inflation slowed down slightly, for it was 4.1 per cent in October.
The direct impact of higher petrol and light fuel oil prices on inflation amounted to 0.9 percentage points in November. Higher interest rates put inflation up by 0.8 and higher food prices by 0.4 percentage points. In addition, rents, public transport fares and prices of package tours rose in the year to November.
Inflation was slightly curbed in November by lower prices of used cars, mobile telephones and electricity.
From October to November, consumer prices went down by 0.1 per cent, which was mostly due to lower prices of petrol and light fuel oil. In contrast, food prices went up.
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Inflation indicators in Finland, November 2000 |
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|
Point figure |
Change on one year |
Change on one month |
|
|
Consumer Price Index (1995=100) |
109.3 |
4.0% |
-0.1% |
|
Cost of Living Index (1951:10=100) |
1,519 |
||
|
Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (1996=100) |
108.1 |
3.3% |
-0.1% |
Each mid-month, Statistics Finland interviewers collect over 50,000 prices from approximately 2,000 outlets for the Consumer Price Index. In addition, some 600 items of price data are gathered by centralised collection.
Inflation in EMU countries 2.7 per cent in October
According to the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices, the rate of inflation in the EMU Member States was 2.7 per cent in October. Inflation slowed down slightly, as it was 2.8 per cent in September. Inflation in the EMU was fastest in Ireland, at 6.0 per cent and slowest in France and Austria, at 2.1 per cent. The corresponding figure for Finland stood at 3.4 per cent. In the member countries of the EU, inflation was 2.4 per cent in October.
In November, the Finnish point figure on the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (1996=100) stood at 108.1 and the year-on-year change at 3.3 per cent. From October to November, the index fell by 0.1 per cent. Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Communities, will publish the EU's Harmonised Indices of Consumer Prices for November on 19 December.
Source: Consumer Price Index 2000, November. Statistics Finland